Buhler Reflects On Last Twelve Years

From the Topeka Capital-Journal:

Every four years, Shelly Buhler went door-to-door.

The outgoing Shawnee County commissioner recalled Friday that because she wasn’t affiliated with a political party, she had to earn a place on the general election ballot by acquiring a sufficient number of signatures — which was always at least 1,571 — on petitions supporting her candidacy in 2006, 2010 and 2014.

So Buhler went to hundreds of homes in the Shawnee County Commission’s 1st District, which she represents, in west Topeka and western Shawnee County. And she is glad she did. She said the petition process enabled her to get to know a lot of people.

Buhler spoke proudly this past week of the county’s accomplishments during her time in office, including replacing the Willard Bridge, offering curbside recycling and getting involved with the Momentum 2022 campaign aimed at putting Topeka and Shawnee County on a path to success.

But the most rewarding part of being a commissioner, she said, has been the lifelong friendships she gained.

Buhler’s 12 years on the commission will end Monday, when Republican Bill Riphahn is sworn in to take the 1st District seat. Buhler, who is Roman Catholic, chose not to seek re-election so she could focus on the job she began July 1 as president of Topeka’s Hayden High School.

A graduate of Atchison’s Benedictine College, Buhler served six years as mayor of Rossville before joining the county commission.

“I’ve never thought of myself as a politician,” she said. “My degree in college was in community service, and I’ve always tried to serve and encourage others to serve.”

Buhler voiced pride about the working relationships she built with former Topeka mayors Larry Wolgast and Bill Bunten.

She said relations between the governments of Topeka and Shawnee County — which haven’t always been friendly — have improved in recent years.

Buhler said she would advise her successor, Riphahn, to get to know and trust the county’s elected officials and department leaders — whom she described as being “some very dedicated people” — and to get to know the county’s employees.

“Bill has a little bit of an edge there, because he’s been a county employee for awhile,” she said.

Riphahn worked for the county parks and recreation department from January 2012 until he retired late last year.

Buhler said she also would encourage Riphahn to be involved in the community.

Buhler has been active here with organizations that included the Topeka Community Foundation, the Safe Streets Coalition’s Recognition Council, Heartland Healthy Neighborhoods, Rossville PRIDE, the Rossville Community Foundation and Momentum 2022.

She said she plans to continue to be active in the Topeka and Shawnee County community.

The 54-year-old Buhler stopped short of saying her political career is over — “never say never,” she said — but she described herself as being “very blessed” to be president at Hayden.

“This is a calling for me, and a way for me to not only continue to serve my community but to serve my faith, so I am very pleased to be where I am right now at Hayden,” she said.